Launching assemblage for rocket missiles



July 18, 1967 H w DmN ET AL LAUNC HING ASSEMBLAGE FOR ROCKET MISSILES 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 4, 1965 INVENTORS HENRY W/LHELM ALDE/N R KB/RGER K/NDROT' BY H I v ATTORNEYS July 18, 1967 H. w. ALDRIN ET ALLAUNCHING ASSEMBLAGE FUR ROCKET MISSILES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1,1965 INVENTOR6 HENRY VV/L HELM AL-Dk/N ERIK B/RGER Kl/VDROT BY ATTORNEYSJuly 18, 1967 w, ALDRIN ET AL 3,331,279

LAUNCHING ASSEMBLAGE FOR ROCKET mxssmzs Filed May 4, 1965 4 Sheets-SheetI5 46 INVENTORB HENRY W/LHELM ALDR/N ER/K B/RGER KINDROT 4-3 A 'r-TORNETJ July 18, 1967 l H ALDR|N ET AL 3,331,279

LAUNCHING ASSEMBLAGE FOR ROCKET MISSILES Filed May 4, 1965 4Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS HE vkY W/LHE'LM ALDk/N ERIK B/RGEE K/NDROTArm/mars United States Patent ()flice 3,331,279 Patented July 18, 19673,331,279 LAUNCHING ASSEMBLAGE FOR ROCKET MESELES Henry Wilhelm Aldrin,Bofors, and Erik Birger Kindrot, Karlskoga, Sweden, assignors toAktiebolaget Bofors, Bofors, Sweden, a Swedish corporation Filed May 4,1965, Ser. No. 453,008 Claims priority, application Sweden, May 6, 1964,5,617/64 15 Claims. (Cl. 89-1802) The present invention relates to alaunching assemblage for firing missiles of the rocket type. There areknown launching assemblages including a launching stand to which issecured a launching rail. The rocket to be fired is releasably suspendedfroin the rail, generally parallel thereto. The conventional practice ofmounting a rocket to be fired on the rail is lengthwise of the rail,generally from the rear end thereof. Aiming of the rocket is effected bytraversing and elevating the rail and the stand.

To eflect mounting of a rocket on the rail from the rear end of thelatter and lengthwise therewith, it should be possible, or at leastconvenient for practical purposes, to place the rail in a substantiallyhorizontal position. When the launching assemblage is installed on thedeck of a ship, such as small naval craft as is frequently the case, therockets are generally stored below deck and the customary practice is toturn the rail so that it is substantially at right angle with the deck.The rocket is then lengthwise applied to the rail from below deck.

In modern rocketry, there is a tendency for the rockets to become longerand longer and this creates the difficulty that there is not suflicientspace available for a rocket to stand upright between the top deckmounting the stand and the rail and a lower deck on which the rocketsare stored. In particular, it has been found difficult to find space forloading a rocket from the rear end of the rail in lengthwiserelationship therewith.

It is a broad object of the invention to provide a novel and improvedlaunching assemblage of the general kind above referred to which permitsa convenient loading of the rocket on a launching rail attached to alaunching stand even though the space required for such loading is verylimited.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved launching assemblage of the general kind abovereferred to whichpermits loading of a rocket on a launching rail already mounted on thelaunching stand, and also loading of a rocket and a launching rail as aunit in a direction which is transverse of the rocket and the rail inreference to the stand. Such transverse loading has the advantage thatthe hereto-fore necessary space behind the launching stand, which asstated before, is at least equal in length to the length of the rail andthe rocket, is not required but that a comparatively small sidewisespace is sufficient.

According ot the invention, the aforepointed out objects, features andadvantages and other objects, features and advantages which will bepointed out hereinafter are attained by providing an upright stand, suchas a column stationarily mounted on a base, such as the deck of a shipand supporting on its upper end a support member rotatable about aperpendicular axis. The support member, in turn, mounts a mounting barpivotal about an axis transverse of the rotational axis of the supportmember and supporting a carrier head which is slidable along the bar.The head is arranged to receive or to have fixedly secured thereto alaunching rail for supporting a rocket to be fired. The length of thebar and the shape of the head are such that the head can be lowered sothat the rail is below the base of the upright column, that is, belowthe deck. In such a lower position of the head, a rocket to be fired issecured to a rail mounted on the head, or the rail may be pre-mounted onthe rocket in which the rail and the rocket are secured as a unit to thehead. The head is then raised again and placed in the appropriateposition for firing the rocket.

In the accompanying drawing, a preferred embodiment of the invention isshown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of a launching assemblage accordingto the invention with a rocket in position ready for firing;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing thelaunching assemblage from the opposite side, partly broken open to showthe elevating mechanism of the assemblage;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but broken open to showthe traversing mechanism of the assemblage;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing the head carrying an empty raillowered for loading with a rocket;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view showing the launching stand with thecomponents mounted thereon and the supply magazine from which rocketsand launching rails are supplied to the stand;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the supply magazine partly broken open; and

FIGS. 7 through 10 show a loading operation in several stages.

Referring now to the figures in detail, the exemplified launchingassemblage comprises an upright stand, such as a column 2 stationarilymounted on a base 1 which may be visualized as being part of the deck ofa naval craft. Column 2 supports a member 3 which is rotatable about aperpendicular axis in reference to deck 1. To facilitate turning ofmember 3, suitable bearings, such as ball bearings 4, may be provided.As can best be seen in FIG. 3, column 2 is hollow and constitutes ahousing in which is mounted the traversing mechanism of the assemblage.This mechanism comprises a toothed arc 5 on member 3 which is alsohollow, coacting with a gear 6 seated on one end of a shaft 7. The otherend of the shaft mounts a bevel gear 8 in mesh with a gear 9 of a geartransmission 10 driven by a motor 11.

As is shown in FIG. 2, support member 3 mounts a preferably flexiblemounting bar 13 which is seated on a pivot shaft 12 extendingtransversely of the rotational axis of member 3. Pivot shaft 12 seats agear segment 14 in mesh with a gear 15 of a gear transmission 16 drivenby a motor 17. As is evident, pivoting of gear segment 14 by motor 17will move bar 13 to any selected angular position in reference to column2. The angular position of bar 13 controls the elevation of a rocket tobe fired as will appear from the subsequent description.

As can best be seen in FIG. 1, bar 13 mounts a lengthwise screw spindle18 which is rotatably supported at opposite ends of the bar. Spindle 18at the upper end of bar 13 is supported in a flange 19 laterallyextending from the bar proper (FIG. 4). The flange also supports a drivemechanism 20 including a motor driving a shaft 21 mounting a gear 22.The gear is in mesh with a second gear 23 fixedly secured to the upperend of spindle 18. The bar mounts a carrier head which is slidable alongthe bar and is guided by suitable guide means shown as two guide members25 and 26 engaging turned-over flanges 27 and 28 respectively on thebar. The carrier head has fixedly secured thereto a screw nut 29 throughwhich spindle 18 is extended. The threads on the spindle and on the nutare in mesh so that a rotation of drive mechanism 20 will causelengthwise displacement of head 24 along the bar via shaft 21, gears 22and 23 and spindle 18.

The directional movement of the head can be conveniently controlled byreversing the rotational direction of mechanism 2t}, or by suitablereversing means.

The lower end of head 24 which is generally plateshaped, serves toreceive a launching rail 30. The rail may be fixedly secured to head 24,but it is preferably releasably mounted by fastening means 31 and 32.Fastening means 31 comprise a guide track 33 on rail 30 and a mountingrail or tongue 34 on head 24. Fastening means 32 similarly comprise aguide track 35 on rail 30 and a mounting rail or tongue 36 on head 24.The guide tracks and mounting rails are slidably engageable with eachother and extend transversely to the lengthwise planes of the head andthe rail so that the rail may be attached to head 24 and releasedtherefrom by moving the rail sidewise in reference to head 24, or inother words, in the direction of the pivot axis of bar 13. The two guidetracks 33 and 35 are preferably formed in raised portions of thelaunching rail. They are shown as having a generally U-shaped crosssection and facing in opposite directions, thereby preventing alengthwise displacement of the mounted launching rail in reference tohead 24-.

It is, of course, possible and within the scope of the invention toprovide the mounting rails or tongues on launching rail 30 and the guidetracks on head 24. It is further possible and within the scope of theinvention to turn the fastening means so that the launching rail isattached to and released from the head by a movement substantiallyparallel to the plane of bar 13 rather than transversely in referencethereto. It is merely essential that mounting of the rail on the headand release therefrom are effected in a direction transverse of thelength of the launching rail rather than in the lengthwise directionthereof as heretofore conventional.

To secure a mounted launching rail not only in its lengthwise positionbut also transversely, suitable and conventional additional fasteningmeans may be provided, such as snap fastener type devices.

Launching rail 33 supports a rocket 37. This rocket is fastened to thelaunching rail before the same is mounted on carrier head 24. Themounting of the rocket on the rail should be visualized as beingeffected by suitable and conventional fastening means. A widely usedconventional fastening means suitable for the purpose comprises twoguide grooves in the lower side of the launching rail which are engagedby headed pins extending from the body of the rocket.

Deck 1 on which the aforedescribed assemblage is mounted includes agenerally rectangular opening 38. As can best be seen in FIG. 4, thisopening can be closed by two hinged closure plates 39 and 34, theoperation of which is controlled by means suitable and conventional forthe purpose which do not constitute part of the invention. Opening 38 isso dimensioned and located that rail 30 and rocket 37 carried on head 24can pass through the opening in either direction when bar 13 is placedin an up and down or perpendicular position. This position is shown inFIG. 4 and represents a degree elevation and a 0 degree traverse.

Bar 13 may be locked in its up and down position by suitable retentionmeans shown as a peg 41 and a hole 42 on column 2 and bar 13respectively. When head 24 is lowered into the position in which alaunching rail and a rocket supported by the head are below the level ofdeck 1, it coacts with a supply magazine mounted below deck. Themagazine is shown as being of the rotary drum type. It comprises arotary drum 43 rotatable about an axis 44 parallel to the plane ofdeck 1. The drum has end walls 45 and 46 and is divided by radiallyoriented partition walls t8 into a plurality of axially extendingcircumferentially spaced compartments. Each of the compartments servesto accommodate a launching rail 3t} with a rocket 37 attached thereto.The rail-and-rocket units are held in position in the compartments bycircumferentially spaced notches 47 in the periphery of end walls 45 and46. These notches the launching rails.

The opening 38 in deck 1 is framed below the deck by depending plates orwalls 49 and 50 to form a chute 51 leading to the outer periphery ofdrum 43 as clearly shown in FIGS. 6 through 10.

To effect a step-by-step rotation of the drum, a peripherally toothedring 52 is secured to the outside of end wall 46. The toothed ring is inmesh with a gear 54 secured to one end of a shaft 55. The other end ofthe shaft mounts a bevel gear 56 in mesh with a bevel gear 57 of a geartransmission 58 driven by a motor 59. To control a stepwise rotation ofthe drum, a retention device 60 is provided. This device is shown ascomprising a lengthwise displaceable, preferably spring loaded pin orpeg 6.1 engageable with suitably placed holes 62 in end wall 46. Holes62 are so placed that turning of the drum through an angle correspondingto the spacing between two holes 62 will place one of the compartmentsin the drum in registry with chute 51.

The aforedescribed drive mechanism for the drum may also be mounted onend wall 45, or a drive mechanism may be provided at both end walls,similarly, retention device 60 may coact with one or the other end wall,or with both end walls.

The launching assemblage as hereinbefore described operates as follows:

Let it be assumed that rocket 37 suspended from rail 30 and aimed asshown in FIG. 1 has been fired and that it is now desired to reload theempty rail left on carrier head 24. For this purpose, the carrier head24 is set for elevation 0 degree and traverse 0 degree and the retentiondevice 41, 42 is operated to secure bar 13 and with it head 24 in thatposition. Drive mechanism 20 is now started to lower the carrier headwith the empty rail thereon into a position in which the rail and partof the head are below the level of deck 1.

Referring now to FIG. 7, this figure shows an empty compartment in thedrum in registry with chute 51. Head 24 when reaching its lowermostposition will seat the empty launching rail thereon in the notches 47 inthe empty compartment as it is shown in FIG. 8. The drum is now turnedone step and such turning will cause the lowered launching rail 30retained at its end by notches 47 to be detached from head 24 by slidingguide tracks 33 and 35 on the launching rail out of mounting rails 34and 36 on the head. A further turning of the drum through one step willinsert the guide tracks on the launching rail in the next compartmentinto the mounting rails on the carrier head as is shown in FIG. 9.

The carrier head with a new rail-and-rocket unit attached thereto cannow be lifted as it is shown in FIG. 10. Finally, the carrier head isplaced in the desired elevational and traverse position to ready thenewly loaded rocket for firing.

The invention has been described hereinbefore in connection with alaunching rail detachable from the carrier head and pre-mounted on arocket, but the invention is also suitable for use with a carrier headwith a launching rail fixedly attached thereto. However in sucharrangement, the magazine cannot be placed sidewise of the carrier headbut must be placed behind or in front of the same.

Instead of using a drum magazine, other suitable magazines may also beused. It is, for instance, possible and practical to use magazines ofthe transverse conveyor type placed on both sides of chute 51.

In the described and illustrated exemplification of the assemblage, onlyone carrier head 24 is provided, but it is, of course, possible toprovide several carrier heads by giving pivot shaft 12 an adequatelength.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to acertain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention, it Willbe understood by those are engaged by the ends of skilled in the art,after understanding the invention, that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changesand modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A launching device for rocket missiles, said device comprising astationary platform, a support mounted on said platform rotatable abouta perpendicular axis, a mounting bar supported by said support pivotalabout an axis transverse of the rotational axis of the support member, ahead member supported by said bar, means mounted on said bar forslidably mounting said head member along the length thereof for placingthe head member in a selected position in reference to the bar, and alaunching rail member for a rocket to be fired supported by said headmember, the length of said bar and the shape of the head member beingsuch that the launching rail is below the level of said platform whensaid mounting bar is pivoted into a substantially perpendicular positionand the head member is moved into its lowermost position on the bar.

2. A launching device according to claim 1, wherein said supportcomprises a stationarily mounted stand and a rotary mounting member,said mounting member being rotatable about the perpendicular axis andsupporting said'mounting bar.

3. A launching device according to claim 1, wherein said launching railmember is fixedly mounted on said head member.

4. A launching device according to claim 1 and comprising fasteningmeans on said head member and said launching rail member, said fasteningmeans being slidably engageable with each other in a directiontransverse of the length of said launching rail member.

5. A launching device according to claim 4, wherein said fastening meanscomprise means for blocking lengthwise displacement of the launchingrail member in refer ence to the head member when the rail member issupported on the head member.

6. A launching device according to claim 4, wherein said fastening meanscomprise a pair of guide tracks on one of said members and a pair ofmounting rails on the other of said member, said tracks and mountingrails being slidably engageable with each other and extending parallelto the pivot axis of said bar.

7. A launching device according to claim 6, wherein said guide trackshave a generally U-shaped cross section, the open sides of the tracksfacing in opposite directions to prevent longitudinal displacement ofthe mounting rails engaged therewith.

8. A launching assemblage comprising, in combination, a substantiallyplane support base, an upright member stationarily mounted on said base,a support member rotatably supported on said upright member, the supportmember being rotatable about a perpendicular axis, a mounting barsupported on said support member pivotal about an axis transverse of therotational axis of the support member, a head member supported by saidbar, means mounted on said bar for slidably mounting said head memberalong the length thereof for placing the head member in a selectedposition in reference to the bar, and a launching rail member for arocket to be launched supported by said head member, the length of saidbar and the shape of the head member being such that at least part ofthe head member and the launching rail supported thereon are below thelevel of said plane support base when the mounting bar is pivoted into asubstantially perpendicular position and the head member is placed inits lowermost position on the bar, said support base including a passageopening for passage of the launching rail.

9. An assemblage according to claim 8 and comprising closure means forclosing said passage opening and uncovering the same for passage of alaunching rail and a rocket supported by the head member.

10. An assemblage according to claim 8 and comprising a magazine for asupply of rockets disposed below the plane of said support base, andconveyor means for conveying said rockets from the magazine to the headmember in the position thereof extending partly through the passageopening.

11. An assemblage according to claim 8 and comprising a magazine forstoring therein a supply of launching rail-and-rocket units, means forremoving an empty launching rail member from the head member in theposition thereof partly protruding through the passage opening, andmeans for moving the rail member of one of said units into supportingengagement with the head member.

12. An assemblage according to claim 11 and comprising spaced apartmutually engageable fastening means on said head member and saidlaunching rail member, the fastening means on the head member beingdisposed in a position substantially parallel to said support base whenthe head member is partly positioned below said support base, andwherein said supply magazine encompasses a rotary drum rotatable aboutan axis substantially parallel to the support base, said drum includinglengthwise circumferentially spaced compartments each for accommodatingtherein a launching rail-and-rocket unit in a position substantiallyparallel to the support base, said magazine having a lengthwise loadingslot for passage of the fastening means on the head member therethroughand into one of the compartments of the drum for engagement of thefastening means on the head member with the fastening means of the railmember in said compartment.

13. An assemblage according to claim 12 and comprising means in eachcompartment engageable with an empty rail detaehably supported on saidhead member and protruding into one of said compartments of the drum fordisengaging the fastening means of the head member in response to apredetermined angular movement of the drum.

14. An assemblage according to claim 11, wherein the end walls of saiddrum comprise support means for each of said compartments to support theends of the rail member of a unit therein.

15. An assemblage according to claim 14, wherein the end walls of saiddrum include circumferentially spaced notches, one notch in each endWall being provided for each of said compartments to receive the ends ofa rail member of a unit therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS SAMUEL W. ENGLE, PrimaryExaminer.

1. A LAUNCHING DEVICE FOR ROCKET MISSILES, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING ASTATIONARY PLATFORM, A SUPPORT MOUNTED ON SAID PLATFORM ROTATABLE ABOUTA PERPENDICULAR AXIS, A MOUNTING BAR SUPPORTED BY SAID SUPPORT PIVOTALABOUT AN AXIS TRANSVERSE OF THE ROTATIONAL AXIS OF THE SUPPORT MEMBER, AHEAD MEMBER SUPPORTED BY SAID BAR, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BAR FORSLIDABLY MOUNTING SAID HEAD MEMBER ALONG THE LENGTH THEREOF FOR PLACINGTHE HEAD MEMBER IN A SELECTED POSITION IN REFERENCE TO THE BAR, AND ALAUNCHING RAIL MEMBER FOR A ROCKET TO BE FIRED SUPPORTED BY SAID HEADMEMBER, THE LENGTH OF SAID BAR AND THE SHAPE OF THE HEAD MEMBER BEINGSUCH THAT THE LAUCHING RAIL IS BELOW THE LEVEL OF SAID PLATFORM WHENSAID MOUNTING BAR IS PIVOTED INTO A SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR POSITIONAND THE HEAD MEMBER IS MOVED INTO ITS LOWERMOST POSITION ON THE BAR.